New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant play for the teams worth the most in Forbes rankings. / Alex Gallardo AP

by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

Two NBA teams are worth at least â?? in your best Dr. Evil voice â?? one billion dollars, according to Forbes' annual NBA team valuations released Wednesday.

The New York Knicks were valued at $1.1 billion and the Los Angeles Lakers at $1 billion â?? a 41% increase for the Knicks and an 11% increase for the Lakers from last year.

The move to Brooklyn paid off for the Nets, going from $357 million last year to $530 million this year, according to Forbes, and the potential sale of Sacramento Kings to a group intent on moving the team to Seattle increased the value of the Kings from $300 million to $525 million.

Those weren't the only teams on the rise, Forbes reported. Every team had an increase in value, including the recently-sold Memphis Grizzlies, valued at $377 million, up from $269 million. The Chicago Bulls were valued at 800 million (up from 600 million), the Boston Celtics at 730 million (up from $482 million) and Dallas Mavericks were at $685 million, up from $497 million.

Winning the NBA title didn't hurt the Miami Heat or owner Micky Arison â?? valued at $625 million, up from $457 million. The Toronto Raptors had the smallest increase in value at 6%, Forbes reported, but are still worth $405 million. The New Orleans Hornets were valued at $340 million, almost nine months after New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson bought the team from the NBA for $338 million.

Privately, the NBA downplays those figures, doubting the accuracy without full access to each team's financial statements. Regardless of how the NBA views the Forbes valuations, the bottom line is this: the business of basketball recovered nicely from the pre-lockout financial losses and prospered financially in short time post-lockout.

Eight teams lost money and 22 made money last year based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, Forbes reported.

If you're wondering why there was a lockout in 2011 that led to a shortened season, there's your answer. NBA Commissioner David Stern said in April of 2011 that 22 teams would lose money that year and just eight would profit for a loss of nearly $300 million.

The league sought changes to player salaries and got them in the collective bargaining agreement reached in November of 2011. Players salaries went from 57% of basketball-related income to 50% -- a significant swing in the league's favor.

While the NBA may dispute some of Forbes' numbers, Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters in April of 2012 that the league was on schedule to lose money last season but "far less than we lost the season before, and we project that we will make money for the next season, for the '12â??'13 season," Silver said.

Teams with operating deficits can also look to curb those losses beginning next season when the league's new revenue-sharing plan kicks in. Stern previously has said nearly $200 million will be shared and that six teams will receive at least $16 million and a team may receive as much as $22 million in the revenue-sharing system. Stern said anywhere from six to nine teams will be contributing to the revenue-sharing pot â?? "At the high end, as much as $50 million," Stern said in December of 2011.